Emil Danielyan

Emil Danielyan is a journalist and political analyst based in Armenia’s capital Yerevan. He works for the Yerevan bureau of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty (RFE/RL) and also writes regularly for a number of Western analytical sources . His main areas of interest are Armenian politics and economics, the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, Turkish-Armenian relations and regional security issues. Danielyan holds a Master’s degree in political science from the American University of Armenia.

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Articles by Emil Danielyan

Armenian President Seen as Getting Cold Shoulder from Putin

During his four-year rule, Armenia’s President Serzh Sargsyan has had little contact with Vladimir Putin, and the Armenian head of state’s most recent trip to Moscow only reinforced a growing

Armenia Again Rules Out Membership in Russian-Led Customs Union

Armenia has again ruled out the possibility of joining a Russian-led customs union, which Russia’s President-elect Vladimir Putin hopes could form the backbone of a future “Eurasian Union” of former

US, Armenia Agree on First-Ever Joint Military Exercises

Armenia plans to hold first-ever joint military exercises with the United States just months after agreeing to a more ambitious cooperation framework with NATO. Highlighting its “complementary” foreign and security

Armenia Gears Up for New Nuclear Plant Construction

Armenia’s government seems to be pressing ahead with its ambitious plans to replace the aging nuclear power station at Metsamor, with a new plant meeting modern safety standards. Having secured

Armenia, Azerbaijan Hold Face-Saving Summit for Russia’s Medvedev

The presidents of Armenia and Azerbaijan have held yet another Russian-mediated meeting that was apparently intended to help their Russian counterpart, Dmitry Medvedev, save face after three years of intensive

Armenia Steps Up European Integration Drive

Armenia appears to be intensifying integration into the European Union, despite Moscow’s unease over the growing EU presence in its former Soviet backyard. The authorities in Yerevan are particularly keen

Yerevan In Fresh Threat to Annul Turkish-Armenian Accords

Armenia appears to be edging closer to formally annulling its Western-backed normalization agreements with Turkey because of Ankara’s refusal to ratify them before a resolution of the Karabakh conflict. Armenian

Armenia Plans More NATO-Backed Defense Reforms

In the latest manifestation of its delicate balancing act between Russia and the West, Armenia has announced plans for a further reform of its armed forces stemming from its growing

Armenia Passes International Nuclear Safety Test

A team of international inspectors acting under the aegis of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) has given a largely positive assessment of the operational safety of Armenia’s Metsamor nuclear

Armenia, Azerbaijan Again Fail to Agree On Karabakh Peace Framework

The presidents of Armenia and Azerbaijan failed to reach any tangible agreements during their latest negotiations, all but dashing renewed international hopes for the resolution of the Karabakh conflict. The

Ahmadinejad Raises Questions With Last-Minute Cancellation Of Armenia Visit

Iran’s embattled President Mahmuod Ahmadinejad has caused a stir by his last-minute cancellation of a visit to Armenia that was intended to highlight and cement close ties between the two

Armenia to Triple Military Deployment In Afghanistan

Armenia has decided to almost triple the number of its troops stationed in Afghanistan as part of the U.S.-led multinational mission operating there under NATO’s aegis. The decision is a

Armenia Debates Nuclear Energy After Japan Disaster

The future of the nuclear power plant at Metsamor and Armenia’s continued reliance on atomic energy has come under pressure following the nuclear disaster in Japan. The Armenian government is

Armenia, Azerbaijan See Brighter Prospects For Karabakh Peace After Another Summit

Armenia and Azerbaijan claim that the prospects for resolving their dispute over Karabakh have brightened as result of a fresh meeting by their presidents hosted by their Russian counterpart, Dmitry

Turkish-Armenian Accords Pronounced Dead By Yerevan

Armenia has announced the effective demise of its Western-backed rapprochement with Turkey, which could see relations between the two historical enemies sink to a new low. Yerevan has accused Ankara

Armenia Displays Sophisticated Air Defense Systems

After several years of silence on the issue, Armenia has officially confirmed the existence of the sophisticated Russian-supplied S-300 air defense system in its military arsenal and demonstrated this by

Prospects for Karabakh Peace Recede After OSCE Summit

The prospects for resolving the Karabakh conflict are as uncertain as ever after the inability of Armenia and Azerbaijan’s presidents to reach any tangible agreements on the margins of the

Moscow Pushes New Armenian-Azerbaijani Peace Deal

Russian President, Dmitry Medvedev, has expressed “moderate” optimism about a near-term resolution of the Karabakh conflict after hosting yet another meeting of his Armenian and Azerbaijani counterparts. The talks held

Armenia, Iran Forge Ahead With New Energy Projects

Armenia and Iran are pressing ahead with the long-awaited implementation of fresh joint energy projects that will cement closer ties amid Tehran’s deepening standoff with the West. The two neighboring

Russia Boosts Military Alliance With Armenia

Russia and Armenia have agreed to deepen their already close military ties, signing a deal that will strengthen Russian influence in the South Caucasus and could have profound implications for

Armenian Economy Recovers Faster Than Expected

Armenia’s economy is emerging from its first major downturn since the early 1990’s faster than expected, helped by similar recovery globally. Official statistics show that it expanded by 6.7 percent

Armenia and Karabakh Encouraged by UN Court Ruling on Kosovo

Authorities in Armenia and Karabakh have reacted very positively to the July 22 decision by the highest UN court to uphold the legality of Kosovo’s 2008 declaration of independence from

Armenian-Azeri Tensions Mount Despite New International Push For Karabakh Peace

Tension between Armenia and Azerbaijan has risen significantly over the past month despite a renewed international push for a resolution to the Karabakh conflict. The US, Russia and France are

Iran’s Nuclear Crisis Causes Unease in Armenia

Armenia is watching, with unease, the latest developments in neighboring Iran’s standoff with the international community over its controversial nuclear program. The new, harsher sanctions imposed by the UN Security

Frustrated Armenia Freezes Accords With Turkey

Armenia has suspended the universally welcomed process of normalizing its relations with Turkey, after months of frustration with Ankara’s linkage between its successful completion and a resolution of the Karabakh

Armenia: Key Beneficiary of Russian-Georgian Border Opening

Russia and Georgia have reopened their main land border crossing less than 18 months after fighting their brief, but bitter war and severing diplomatic relations. Armenia appears to have been

US House Vote Adds New Twist to Turkey-Armenia Diplomacy

A key committee in the United States House of Representatives has once again approved a draft resolution recognizing the 1915 mass killings and deportations of Armenians in the Ottoman Empire

Armenian Economy Emerging From Recession

Armenia appears to be emerging from its first economic downturn in over 15 years, which was triggered by the global financial crisis. The latest macroeconomic data released by authorities in

Armenia Showcases Iran Ties, as Talks With Azerbaijan and Turkey Falter

Armenia is showcasing its close relationship with Iran at a delicate time in its negotiations with two other, less friendly neighbors: Azerbaijan and Turkey. With the normalization of Turkish-Armenian relations

Turkish-Armenian Deal Threatens To Unravel

Armenia and Turkey have moved to the brink of reversing a universally welcomed thaw in their relations, with differing interpretations of a landmark fence-mending agreement signed in October 2009. Yerevan

Armenia Plans Troop Deployment in Afghanistan

Armenia is due to send a small contingent of troops to Afghanistan next month, in what will be a largely symbolic boost to the NATO-led multinational force fighting the Taliban

Mediating Powers Make New Push for Karabakh Peace

The United States, Russia and France have again stepped up their efforts to broker a solution to the Karabakh conflict. Top diplomats from the three mediating powers urged Armenia and

Turkish Diplomacy Reshapes the Armenian Political Landscape

The dramatic rapprochement with Turkey is having profound implications for Armenia’s domestic political scene and, in particular, among its diverse and volatile opposition. The main opposition player, Levon Ter-Petrosian, has

Armenia Debates Landmark Deal With Turkey

Yerevan's fence-mending agreements with Ankara, which are expected to be signed by October 14, have generated lively and bitter debates among Armenia's leading political groups. Although many of them have

Armenia and Turkey Inch Closer to Normalization

Armenia and Turkey, after an impasse lasting several months, have made further significant progress in their dialogue welcomed and facilitated by the international community. The governments of the two neighboring

Karabakh Peace Prospects Uncertain After Latest Armenian-Azeri Talks

Prospects for the resolution of the Karabakh conflict look more uncertain following the latest round of negotiations between the presidents of Armenia and Azerbaijan. Contrary to the international community's expectations,

Armenia Presses Ahead with Nuclear Power Plant Construction

Armenia is pressing ahead with its ambitious plans to build a new nuclear power station to replace the aging Soviet-era facility at Metsamor slated for decommissioning by 2017. The Armenian

Armenian President Criticized Over Turkish Rapprochement

Armenia's President Serzh Sarksyan is facing mounting domestic criticism against his conciliatory policy toward Turkey, which is regarded as an initiative that has achieved few tangible results. A recent joint

Yerevan and Tehran Strengthen Economic Cooperation

Armenia and Iran have agreed to deepen their already close relationship by pressing ahead with several large-scale commercial projects, mostly related to energy supplies. The two neighboring states formalized these

Turkish-Armenian Dialogue on the Verge of Collapse

The nearly year-long negotiations between Armenia and Turkey look set to prove fruitless after Ankara has revived its long-standing linkage between the normalization of bilateral ties and a resolution of

World Economic Crisis Drags Armenia into Recession

The global economic crisis is taking an increasingly heavy toll on Armenia, forcing its government to devalue the national currency, cut budgetary spending, and seek hundreds of millions of dollars

Armenia and Turkey Make Progress on Delicate Task of Restoring Relations

After months of intensive negotiations, Armenia and Turkey appear to be heading toward a full normalization of their historically strained relations that could redraw the region's geopolitical map. Such a

Armenian Government Braces for Council of Europe Sanctions

The Council of Europe looks set to impose embarrassing sanctions on Armenia over its failure to release dozens of opposition activists arrested following the February 2008 presidential election. The move

Armenia Debates an Elusive Peace with Azerbaijan

Faced with a growing outcry from nationalist groups opposed to major concessions to Azerbaijan, Armenia’s leadership is scrambling to clarify its policy on the unresolved Karabakh conflict to the domestic

RUSSIA TAKES INITIATIVE IN INTERNATIONAL PUSH FOR KARABAKH PEACE

Russia has taken the center stage in international efforts to resolve the Karabakh conflict, which could yield a breakthrough before the end of this year. President Dmitry Medvedev is expected

ARMENIA, GEORGIA TO BOOST ECONOMIC TIES AFTER SOUTH OSSETIA WAR

Armenia and Georgia have pledged to strengthen their commercial and other links in hopes of overcoming the negative economic consequences facing both South Caucasus states after the recent Russian-Georgian war.

IRAN TO SUPPLY ARMENIA WITH GAS AND ARMENIA TO EXPORT ELECTRICITY TO IRAN

Armenia appears to have completed construction of a pipeline from neighboring Iran that will supply it with natural gas and significantly ease its heavy dependence on Russia for energy resources.

ARMENIA, TURKEY INCH TOWARD RAPPROCHEMENT

Months of confidential diplomatic contacts and exchanges of unusually cordial statements have left Armenia and Turkey on the verge of an historic rapprochement that would have far-reaching ramifications for regional

TURKEY OFFERS “DIALOGUE” TO ARMENIA

Turkey has offered to enter into a “dialogue” with neighboring Armenia that would aim at improving the historically strained relations between the two nations. The diplomatic overtures have prompted a

NEW ARMENIAN LEADER FORMS CABINET

On April 22 Armenia’s new President Serzh Sarkisian completed the formation of his cabinet comprising representatives of four political parties and key loyalists of his predecessor Robert Kocharian. The appointment

NEW ARMENIAN PRESIDENT TAKES OFFICE, KEEPS UP REPRESSION

Serzh Sarkisian was sworn in as Armenia’s new president on April 9 amid a lingering political crisis triggered by his extremely controversial victory in last February’s presidential election. Speaking at

KARABAKH PEACE IN QUESTION AFTER ARMENIAN VOTE

Armenia’s post-election political crisis and Azerbaijan’s apparent attempts to take advantage of it are dealing a serious blow to international mediators’ hopes for a near-term solution to the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict.

ARMENIA IN TURMOIL AFTER PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION PRAISED BY WEST

Armenia is facing its most serious political crisis in years in the wake of the February 19 presidential election that was controversially won by Prime Minister Serge Sarkisian. Tens of

DOES MOSCOW BACK ARMENIA’S EMBATTLED LEADERS?

As the outcome of Armenia’s upcoming presidential election looks increasingly unpredictable, Russia is exercising unusual caution in backing a transfer of power from outgoing President Robert Kocharian to his chief

NINE CANDIDATES REGISTER FOR ARMENIAN PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION AS CAMPAIGNING BEGINS

Campaigning for Armenia’s upcoming presidential election officially kicked off on January 21 and is turning nasty amid an intensifying war of words between the country’s current and former leaders. Prime

YEREVAN REPORTS DOUBLE-DIGIT GDP FOR 2007

Armenia’s economy appears to have expanded at a double-digit rate for the sixth consecutive year in 2007 despite the unresolved conflict over Karabakh and the resulting high cost of the

WEST SILENT AS YEREVAN STEPS UP PRE-ELECTION CRACKDOWN ON OPPOSITION

With just over two months to go before a fateful presidential election, Armenia’s leadership is stepping up what increasingly looks like repression against supporters of its most formidable opponent, former

U.S. MOVES TO HELP ARMENIA BUILD NEW NUCLEAR PLANT

The United States has voiced support for the ambitious idea of building a new nuclear power station in Armenia in place of an aging Soviet-era facility, boosting the chances of

ARMENIAN PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION SCHEDULED FOR FEBRUARY

Armenia’s Central Election Commission (CEC) has set the date for the upcoming presidential election, which will seal the end of President Robert Kocharian’s ten-year rule. The vote, scheduled for February

SOARING TRADE BOOSTS RUSSIAN-ARMENIAN ECONOMIC TIES

Armenia’s trade with Russia has increased dramatically this year, paralleling the growing Russian economic presence in the country, which has sparked concerns about Armenia’s economic independence and even national security.

BAKU, YEREVAN QUIETLY BUILDING MILITARY STRENGTH INSTEAD OF HOLDING KARABAKH PEACE TALKS

The presidents of Armenia and Azerbaijan have finally dashed hopes for a near-term settlement of the Karabakh conflict with their failure to hold yet another, potentially decisive round of negotiations.

ARMENIAN EX-PRESIDENT BREAKS LONG SILENCE, SIGNALS COMEBACK

Levon Ter-Petrosian, Armenia’s former president acclaimed in the West for his conciliatory stance on the Karabakh conflict, has rocked the domestic political arena with his first public speech in nearly

ARMENIAN PARLIAMENT OPPOSITION UNDER FIRE AFTER KEY VOTE

The two opposition parties represented in the Armenian parliament are facing embarrassing accusations of secret collaboration with the government after effectively acquiescing to the reappointment of the country’s top prosecutor.

RUSSIANS CLOSE TO BUYING ANOTHER MAJOR ARMENIAN ENTERPRISE

A Russian financial-industrial group looks set to acquire an Indian-owned company that develops the bulk of Armenia’s gold reserves. The deal, if it goes through, will give a further boost

ARMENIAN OPPOSITION SEEKS SINGLE PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE

Armenia’s fragmented opposition, reeling from its crushing defeat in recent parliamentary elections, is looking to join forces ahead of the presidential ballot due early next year. Leaders of the country’s

ARMENIA DEEPENS ECONOMIC TIES WITH IRAN

Armenia and Iran have agreed to give new impetus to their bilateral relations and press ahead with the implementation of more multimillion-dollar energy projects. The agreements were announced in Yerevan

YEREVAN VOWS “SECOND-GENERATION” REFORMS TO SUSTAIN ROBUST GROWTH

Armenia’s recently reshuffled government has pledged to embark on “second-generation” reforms that it hopes will sustain robust economic growth. According to government statistics, the Armenian economy expanded by 10.2% during

U.S.-BORN POLITICIAN RESHAPES ARMENIAN OPPOSITION CAMP

The May 12 parliamentary elections in Armenia, swept by political allies of President Robert Kocharian and Prime Minister Serge Sarkisian, were a massive blow to the country’s fragmented opposition. Most

ARMENIAN PM FORMS NEW CABINET AFTER ELECTION TRIUMPH

Armenia’s President Robert Kocharian and his top political allies have cut a new power-sharing deal resulting from their landslide victory in the May 12 parliamentary elections. In a decree made

ARMENIAN, AZERI PRESIDENTS SET FOR “DECISIVE” TALKS ON KARABAKH

The presidents of Armenia and Azerbaijan have agreed to hold yet another face-to-face meeting that could result in a long-awaited breakthrough in international efforts to resolve the conflict over Karabakh.

ARMENIAN PARTY OF POWER WINS PARLIAMENTARY ELECTIONS

Armenia’s main “party of power” scored a landslide victory in the May 12 parliamentary elections that were essentially recognized as legitimate by the West and significantly boosted Prime Minister Serge

ARMENIAN SECURITY SERVICES SUSPECTED OF SPYING ON OPPOSITION LEADER

Armenia’s intensifying parliamentary election campaign has been jolted by a scandal over the secret recording of a recent confidential meeting between a top opposition leader and a Yerevan-based Western diplomat.

MOSCOW SIGNALS SUPPORT FOR ARMENIAN POWER HANDOVER

With less than a month to go before Armenia’s crucial parliamentary elections, Russia has signaled its support for an anticipated handover of power from Armenian President Robert Kocharian to newly

ARMENIAN DEFENSE MINISTER REPLACES DECEASED PRIME MINISTER

Armenian President Robert Kocharian has appointed his longtime influential associate, Defense Minister Serge Sarkisian, as prime minister, formalizing the latter’s status as Armenia’s second-most powerful leader. The appointment, officially announced

RETIRED GENERALS SPICE UP ARMENIAN ELECTION CAMPAIGN

Three retired army generals have added an element of intrigue and uncertainty to political life in Armenia with their separate decisions to stand in the parliamentary elections scheduled for May

YEREVAN MOVES TO DEPOLITICIZE LAW-ENFORCEMENT, JUDICIARY

Armenia is embarking on a sweeping structural reform of its law-enforcement system that is supposed to bring it into greater conformity with European standards. Under a government bill approved by

ARMENIAN PARLIAMENTARY ELECTION RACE KICKS OFF

Armenia’s parliamentary elections have officially been scheduled for May 12, ushering in the traditional period of political upheaval that has defined just about every poll held in the country since

RUSSIA SET TO EXPAND ECONOMIC PRESENCE IN ARMENIA

Russia looks set to enhance its already strong economic presence in Armenia by capitalizing on Armenian President Robert Kocharian’s apparent desire to secure his political future with the Kremlin’s backing.

U.S. UNABLE TO NAME NEW ARMENIA ENVOY AMID GENOCIDE ROW

For months the Bush administration has been unable to appoint a new U.S. ambassador to Armenia due to a dispute with the influential Armenian community in the United States over

ARREST OF ARMENIAN “COUP PLOTTERS” RAISES QUESTIONS

Armenian authorities claim to have thwarted a coup d’etat that was allegedly planned by hard-line nationalists opposed to major concessions to Azerbaijan in the conflict over Karabakh. Two prominent veterans

ARMENIA’S KOCHARIAN SEEKING CONTINUED ROLE IN GOVERNMENT

With just over one year to go before the end of his second and final term in office, Armenia’s President Robert Kocharian does not leave the impression of a man

ARMENIAN, AZERI PRESIDENTS REKINDLE HOPES FOR KARABAKH PEACE

The presidents of Armenia and Azerbaijan have produced a new glimmer of hope for a resolution of the Karabakh conflict following their third face-to-face meeting in less than a year.

KOCHARIAN-PUTIN TALKS FOLLOWED BY RUSSIAN ACQUISITION OF ARMENIAN TELECOM LEADER

A leading Russian mobile phone operator is poised to buy Armenia’s national telecommunications company, ArmenTel, further boosting Moscow’s economic presence in the loyal South Caucasus state. The Armenian government will

ARMENIAN FOREIGN MINISTER SIGNALS PRESIDENTIAL AMBITIONS

Vartan Oskanian, a former U.S. citizen who has served as Armenia’s foreign minister since 1998, is increasingly signaling his intention to contest the presidential election of 2008. There is mounting

ARMENIA, EU TO LAUNCH “ACTION PLAN” ON CLOSER TIES

Next month the European Union and Armenia will sign a five-year action plan related to the European Neighborhood Policy (ENP) program that enables EU neighbors to establish preferential relations with

ARMENIAN OPPOSITION ATTACKS “CRIMINAL ELEMENTS” IN GOVERNMENT

Armenia’s main opposition forces have opened a new front in their standoff with the government, launching a joint movement against what they claim is the growing role of “criminal elements”

JOURNALIST’S BEATING SPARKS CONCERN ABOUT PRESS FREEDOM IN ARMENIA

The reported beating of the editor of a leading Armenian newspaper has sparked domestic and international concerns about the state of press freedom in Armenia. The September 6 incident was

ARMENIAN PRESIDENT, DEFENSE MINISTER SHOW SIGNS OF RIFT

Recent weeks have revealed a rift between Armenia’s two most powerful leaders that could have far-reaching implications for the political future of the South Caucasus state. President Robert Kocharian is

YEREVAN ANNOUNCES CONTINUED ECONOMIC GROWTH, BUT TAX REVENUE STILL LAGS

Armenia’s economy is on track to expand at a double-digit rate for a sixth consecutive year, earning the government in Yerevan more praise from Western lending institutions. The Armenian authorities

NEW POLL SHOWS ARMENIANS EQUALLY SUPPORTIVE OF RUSSIA, WEST

A U.S.-funded opinion poll released this month paints an interesting, if contradictory, picture of the geopolitical preferences of Armenia’s population. It shows that the vast majority of Armenians continue to

ARMENIA’S GREEK-OWNED TELECOM OPERATOR PUT UP FOR SALE

Greece’s Hellenic Telecommunications Organization (OTE) is pressing ahead with the surprise sale of its commanding share in Armenia’s national telephone company, ArmenTel. Four companies and consortiums, two of them Russian,

YEREVAN PRESSING FOR TOUGHER ACTION AGAINST ANTI-ARMENIAN RACISM IN RUSSIA

Armenia’s leadership has indicated its discontent with the Russian authorities’ failure to stop racially motivated attacks on non-Slavic immigrants in Russia. Such attacks have claimed at least six Armenian lives

ARMENIAN DEFENSE MINISTER GEARS UP FOR PRESIDENCY

Armenia's second most powerful official, Defense Minister Serge Sarkisian, is eliminating the last remaining doubts about his intention to succeed President Robert Kocharian after the latter completes a second five-year

ARMENIA, AZERBAIJAN UNDER STRONG PRESSURE TO HAMMER OUT KARABAKH PEACE

The United States, Russia, and France are stepping up pressure on Armenia and Azerbaijan in a last-ditch attempt to secure a framework agreement settling the Karabakh conflict this year. The

ARMENIAN SPEAKER OUSTED FROM RULING COALITION

Armenia's President Robert Kocharian has banished one of the three political parties represented in his government after it appeared to threaten his reported plans to hand over power to a

RACIST MURDERS DEAL FURTHER BLOW TO RUSSIA’S STANDING IN ARMENIA

The latest upsurge in murders of dark-skinned immigrants living in Russia has not only reinforced the country's image as a hotbed of xenophobic extremism, it also has negative implications for

GOVERNMENT INFIGHTING HERALDS START OF ELECTION CAMPAIGN IN ARMENIA

Armenia's governing coalition is beset with fresh infighting between the two largest political parties loyal to President Robert Kocharian, which could have repercussions for next year's parliamentary election. The Orinats

U.S. ANNOUNCES MAJOR NEW AID PACKAGE FOR ARMENIA

The United States has officially committed itself to providing $235.65 million in additional economic assistance to Armenia, in a further indication of its deepening ties with the South Caucasus country.

ARMENIAN GOVERNMENT REAFFIRMS PLANS TO BUILD NEW NUCLEAR PLANT

The Armenian government has pledged to press ahead with the realization of its extremely ambitious plans to build a new nuclear power station in place of the aging Metsamor plant,

YEREVAN INSISTS KARABAKH PEACE PROCESS ALIVE DESPITE PARIS FIASCO

Armenia's leadership seems to be still holding out hope for a resolution of the Karabakh conflict this year despite the failure of the latest Armenia-Azerbaijan summit in France. Senior officials

ARMENIAN GOVERNMENT TO REPLACE DEFIANT HUMAN RIGHTS DEFENDER

Armenia's Office of the Human Rights Defender is facing an uncertain future after a government-engineered leadership change. The country's first human rights ombudsperson, Larisa Alaverdian, is set to be replaced

ARMENIA, AZERBAIJAN LEADERS SET FOR MAKE-OR-BREAK MEETING ON KARABAKH

The foreign ministers of Armenia and Azerbaijan have set the stage for yet another meeting of their presidents that could prove fateful for the protracted search for a solution to

ARMENIAN OLIGARCH MAKES BID FOR POWER WITH NEW POLITICAL PARTY

Armenia's arguably wealthiest government-connected businessman has caused a stir in the domestic political arena by setting up a new party with far-reaching political ambitions. Gagik Tsarukian appears to have enlisted

LOOMING KARABAKH DEAL NOT DEBATED IN ARMENIA, FOR NOW

The international community has always believed that public opinion in Armenia and Azerbaijan must be prepped for painful concessions before the conflict over Karabakh can be resolved. Yet no such

IMF STUDY HIGHLIGHTS WESTERN DONOR PRAISE FOR ARMENIAN REFORMS

The Armenian authorities' economic policies have received another Western endorsement with the publication of extensive research conducted by a group of economists from the International Monetary Fund. In a research

SURGE IN RUSSIAN GAS PRICES RAISES EYEBROWS IN ARMENIA

Russia's decision to drastically raise the cost of the natural gas it supplies to several former Soviet republics has been widely attributed to its desire to stave off a further

SOVIET-STYLE REFERENDUM FAILS TO BRING ARMENIA CLOSER TO EUROPE

The administration of President Robert Kocharian has enacted its controversial constitutional amendments following a November 27 referendum that raised Armenia's post-Soviet culture of electoral fraud to new heights. Its deeply

ARMENIA ADOPTS LANDMARK BUDGET FOR 2006

On November 11 Armenia's parliament approved the national budget for next year. The budget volume is due to exceed $1 billion for the first time in the country's post-Soviet history.

U.S. UNVEILS $6 MILLION PLAN TO FOSTER FREE ELECTIONS IN ARMENIA

The United States has unveiled a $6 million plan to facilitate the conduct of free and fair elections in Armenia. The program, outlined by the U.S. ambassador in Yerevan, John

CONTROVERSIAL ARRESTS SHED LIGHT ON ARMENIA’S MURKY SECURITY SERVICE

Armenia's National Security Service (NSS), the unreformed successor to the local branch of the Soviet KGB, has come under rare media attention after launching dubious criminal proceedings against prominent government

RUSSIA, ARMENIA IN JOINT BID TO STAVE OFF ANOTHER EX-SOVIET REVOLUTION

The leaderships of Russia and Armenia have underscored their persisting concerns about the spread of anti-government uprisings across the former Soviet Union by holding a joint exercise of their special

ARMENIAN SPEAKER SCORING MORE POINTS WITH TRADEMARK POPULISM

Armenia's ambitious parliament speaker, Artur Baghdasarian, has solidified his positions this week by exploiting an issue that touches a raw nerve in Armenian society and is a major ingredient of

LOCAL ELECTIONS EXPOSE WEAKNESS OF ARMENIAN CIVIL SOCIETY

Armenia's ongoing local election season is exposing the degradation of its democratic institutions as well as the weakness of its civil society. The polls, effectively boycotted by the Armenian opposition,

RUSSIAN ELECTRICITY GIANT CLOSE TO COMPLETING ARMENIAN POWER GRID PURCHASE

Russia's state-run power monopoly, Unified Energy Systems (UES), is close to formalizing its effective purchase of Armenia's electricity grid, giving Moscow near total control over the Armenian energy sector. The

ARMENIAN PARLIAMENT PAVES WAY FOR TENSE CONSTITUTIONAL REFERENDUM

Setting the stage for another government showdown with the opposition, Armenia's parliament approved on September 1 the final version of President Robert Kocharian's Western-backed constitutional amendments that will be put

CELL PHONE NETWORK FAILURE HIGHLIGHTS ARMENIA’S TELECOM WOES

The long-awaited liberalization of Armenia's underdeveloped mobile phone sector could not have had a more unexpected and illogical outcome: the near-collapse of the country's main wireless network. ArmenTel, the unpopular

ARMENIAN NUCLEAR PLANT TO FUNCTION FOR ANOTHER DECADE

Armenia appears to have decided to keep its vital nuclear power station at Metsamor operational for another decade, despite persisting Western concerns about the safety of the Soviet-built facility. The

ARMENIAN OPPOSITION CONSIDERS SUPPORTING CONSTITUTIONAL REFORM

The Armenian authorities have been given a major boost in their standoff with the opposition with the Council of Europe's effective endorsement of their draft amendments to Armenia's controversial post-Soviet

RUSSIAN TAKEOVER OF ARMENIAN POWER GRID PROMPTS CONCERN

Armenia is under fire from the United States and other Western donors over the legally questionable transfer of its electricity distribution network to Russia's Unified Energy Systems (UES). The deal

U.S. CONTINUES LARGE-SCALE ASSISTANCE TO ARMENIA

Reflecting the influence of the Armenian community in the United States, the U.S. Congress is blocking yet another attempt by the White House to sizably cut long-running American assistance to

ARMENIA, AZERBAIJAN REPORT MORE PROGRESS TOWARD KARABAKH PEACE

Armenia and Azerbaijan have reported further progress in their decade-long negotiations on the Karabakh enclave following the June 17 meeting of their foreign ministers in Paris. International mediators are now

ARMENIAN LOCAL ELECTIONS REMAIN INTRA-GOVERNMENT CONTESTS AMID OPPOSITION APATHY

Over the past 15 years Armenians have grown accustomed to a great variety of political groups vying for power in their country. They must therefore be amazed by the glaring

AMENDMENTS TO KEY LAWS UNLIKELY TO FOSTER ARMENIA’S DEMOCRATIZATION

The Armenian authorities claim to have taken a further step toward meeting their membership commitments to the Council of Europe with the May 20 passage of amendments to the country's

U.S. RELUCTANT TO PRESS YEREVAN DESPITE FREEDOM PLEDGE

U.S. President George W. Bush's emphatic endorsement of Georgia's 2003 "Rose Revolution" and its consequences was meant to demonstrate U.S. support for similar change elsewhere in the world. But it

BIG FISH LARGELY UNAFFECTED AS YEREVAN CRACKS DOWN ON TAX EVASION

The Armenian authorities have released new data on Armenia's leading corporate taxpayers. The previously unreleased data reveal the first results of the government's new crackdown on tax evasion. The figures

ARMENIAN REGIME CONFIDENT AS OPPOSITION AGAIN PLEDGES “REVOLUTION”

"Revolution" is again a buzzword in Armenia. Armenian opposition leaders, buoyed by a series of successful anti-government uprisings across the former Soviet Union, have opened a new political season with

ARMENIA SET TO MISS COUNCIL OF EUROPE DEADLINE FOR CONSTITUTIONAL REFORM

The Armenian authorities look set to miss a June deadline, set by the Council of Europe, for enacting sweeping amendments to Armenia's controversial post-Soviet constitution. Officials in Yerevan admit that

RUSSIAN BASES WON’T SOLVE PROBLEMS IN JAVAKHETI

Armenia appears to have given Georgia fresh assurances that it will use its influence to prevent a major destabilization of the situation in the southern Georgian region of Javakheti, which

PUTIN VISIT HIGHLIGHTS RUSSIAN INTEREST IN ARMENIA

Russian President Vladimir Putin underlined Armenia's geopolitical importance for Russia as he paid a brief working visit to Yerevan on March 24-25. The visit came against the backdrop of Moscow's

KARABAKH PEACE PROCESS AGAIN IN LIMBO

The long-running international efforts to resolve the Karabakh conflict are again facing an uncertain future following the cancellation of the next and potentially decisive round of talks between Armenia and

ARMENIANS PUZZLED BY U.S. OFFICIAL’S GENOCIDE RECOGNITION

A senior U.S. diplomat has caused a stir in America's relations with Turkey and Armenia by publicly declaring that the 1915-1918 killings of some 1.5 million Armenians in the Ottoman

WAR OF WORDS INTENSIFIES BETWEEN ARMENIAN PRIME MINISTER AND PARLIAMENT SPEAKER

Armenia's governing coalition has been thrust into fresh turmoil by a bitter row between two of the three political parties represented in it. The row between the Republican Party (HHK)

ARMENIAN GOVERNMENT PRESSED TO REIN-IN LAWLESS OLIGARCHS

The Armenian authorities have been under domestic pressure in recent weeks to end what many see as the virtual impunity enjoyed by the country's tiny class of millionaire businessmen with

ARMENIANS COUNT THEIR LOSSES AS THEIR CURRENCY GROWS STRONGER

Armenia's national currency, the dram, has appreciated dramatically against the euro and especially against the U.S. dollar over the past year, hitting hard a large part of the country's population.

ARMENIAN PRESIDENT’S “CRUSADE” AGAINST TAX EVASION FAILS TO IMPRESS

Armenian President Robert Kocharian has announced a major crackdown on tax evasion, which is widely blamed for the highly uneven distribution of the benefits of Armenia's robust economic growth. In

CULTURE OF ELECTORAL FRAUD KEEPS ARMENIA IN OLIGARCHIC QUAGMIRE

By Emil Danielyan Armenia's democratic credentials have been dealt a severe blow by the results of last month's presidential election, which is widely seen as having been fraudulent. The ruling

ARMENIA: THE HIGH ROAD OR THE LOW?

By Emil Danielyan Armenia will hold its third presidential election in six years on February 19. The event will demonstrate whether the country has made any progress toward democracy or

A LOOK BACK AT ARMENIA SINCE TER-PETROSIAN

By Emil Danielyan Levon Ter-Petrosian is the man who led Armenia to independence from the Soviet Union and presided over an era of dramatic upheaval. Strong and assertive, he never

REASONS FOR ARMENIAN TENACITY ON NAGORNO-KARABAKH

By Emil Danielyan For most foreign politicians and observers, it is primarily the Armenian side which should have a vital interest in making serious concessions to Azerbaijan in the Nagorno-Karabakh

LIBERALISM IN ARMENIA: POST-SOVIET FAILURE AND AN UNCERTAIN FUTURE

By Emil Danielyan Ever since independence, Armenia has been one of the few former Soviet republics whose ruling elites did not emerge from the Communist nomenklatura. For more than seven

THE ROLE OF THE INTELLIGENTSIA IN FORMING AND MAINTAINING ARMENIAN NATIONAL IDENTITY

By Emil Danielyan The mood was euphoric among Armenia's intellectual elite following Robert Kocharian's rise to power last February. Endorsements during the presidential campaign made it clear whom they supported

THE ARMENIAN ECONOMY: CONTINUING STAGNATION AMID FRESH PROMISES OF RECOVERY.

By Emil Danielyan Hardly any other part of the former Communist bloc has seen such a dramatic economic decline as has the South Caucasus, in its transition to a market